Seoul City to Promote Second Dose of Customized Vaccines for Homeless from July... Eliminating Blind Spots

79.2% Vaccination Completed Among 2,953 Homeless Individuals in Shelters and on Streets Following Government Guidelines
Second Dose Vaccination Starting in July

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 22nd that it has completed 79.2% of the first COVID-19 vaccinations for homeless people in Seoul. The second dose vaccinations will begin in July.

According to the COVID-19 vaccination guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the vaccination targets include residents of homeless shelters, users of homeless facilities, and street homeless individuals, totaling 2,953 people in Seoul. From April 12 to May 31, Seoul registered 2,529 homeless individuals who gave their consent as vaccination targets and completed the first dose vaccination for 2,339 of them.

In particular, at Seoul Station, where many street homeless people gather, on-site vaccinations were conducted by medical staff from the local public health center in cooperation with the homeless support facility ‘Dasiseogi Comprehensive Support Center’.

The COVID-19 vaccination for homeless people began at the suggestion of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Since homeless shelters were not included in the initial COVID-19 vaccination targets announced by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) earlier this year, the city repeatedly requested the Central Disease Control Headquarters and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to prioritize street homeless and homeless facilities in the vaccination targets. As a result, residents and users of homeless facilities were included as priority targets in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, and vaccinations started in April.

Additionally, Seoul plans to promote tailored vaccination for homeless people by establishing a cooperative system with the KDCA, local district public health centers, and homeless facilities to eliminate vaccination blind spots. For homeless individuals who missed the first dose, a separate vaccination plan will be established to ensure they receive vaccinations as much as possible in July, and related information will be actively provided during on-site street counseling and meal support.

Seoul is also implementing safety management measures for homeless people to prepare for possible adverse reactions after vaccination. The city is ensuring that homeless facilities are stocked with medicines such as antipyretics and analgesics, continuously monitoring for adverse reactions after vaccination, and providing temporary protection spaces or temporary housing for vaccinated individuals so that homeless people can safely receive the vaccine.

After the second dose is completed and two weeks have passed, Seoul plans to exempt vaccinated homeless individuals from mandatory COVID-19 screening when using homeless facilities and meal centers, thereby alleviating inconveniences for those who have completed vaccination.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of Welfare Policy at Seoul City, said, "Homeless people are at greater risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus because they live on the streets. Vaccination is a priority to prevent the spread not only to themselves but also to those around them." She added, "We will ensure smooth progress of the second dose vaccination through continuous monitoring and thorough quarantine measures, and encourage more participation from homeless individuals who missed the first dose by providing tailored vaccination services."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.